Salomon is returning to the mountaineering game. Back in the early ’00s, Salomon made mountaineering boots that were crampon compatible, but that soon faded away. Now, the company is unveiling a new line of snow-ready boots and shoes at the Outdoor Retailer 2014 Summer Market. In addition, there’s an innovative pack for long-distance mountain runners and alpinists.
S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX
The big news from the Salomon booth at OR this year is this super-light mountaineering shoe (yes, shoe) that was developed with the help of Killian Jornet, Salomon’s rockstar athlete. They’re super-technical kicks made for professional mountaineers traveling fast over ridges, across glaciers, and even on low-grade rock climbs. You can even put crampons on them.
What Salomon is most proud of is the inclusion of the Carbon Edging Chassis. This carbon-fiber plate is built directly into the sole, but this is no ordinary plate. I saw it in action outside the shoe and was wowed. Basically, the plate is built in sections so that it bends and is flexible from toe to heel. But laterally, the plate is stiff as a board, giving the user bomber edging capabilities.
The Salomon S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX also features Sensifit and Quicklace for a snug fit around the foot and ankle, Gore-Tex, integrated gaiter, and enough insulation to keep your feet warm down to 20-degrees F. The surprising thing is that these babies are low-top mountaineering shoes with a gaiter to keep the snow out. That means you must think of them as hard-core mountaineering running/cragging shoes. After seeing them, I’d say they’re the first in a category of their own.
They will be available Spring 2015 with an MSRP of $300.
S-Lab X Alp 20 Pack
Also on the light weight mountaineering front is the new S-Lab X Alp 20. It may look small, but Salomon says it will fit everything you need for a long day hike, climb, or mountain run. The pack is super light and flexible so that it conforms to the body like “a monkey on your back.” But the best part, and the thing that really caught my attention, is that you never have to take it off to get inside. Simply undo the sternum and shoulder straps, then use the hip strap to swing the pack in front of you. The zipper is on the back panel. Unzip and access your stuff. Seeing this in action was really cool and will be a feature for anyone who hates having to stop their hike to take their pack off to grab some food or extra clothing.
The pack also features a protective gear box for crampons, a ski-carry system, 2 ice axe loops, and front water flask storage. MSRP is $150, which I think is surprisingly low for such a technical, full-featured pack.